In its 14th year, Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) affirms school districts that have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the schools’ core curriculum.

The BCME survey requires districts to answer detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kan., an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

“This award is a wonderful confirmation of what we already know about our music program at Delsea,” says superintendent Dr. Piera Gravenor. “The teachers in our music department are unparalleled in the level of talent and creativity they bring to their classes. They are student-focused, forward-thinking, and instill not only a love of the arts in all our students but a solid foundation for those students who choose to make music their profession. We are so proud of their accomplishments.”

The BCME designation is an important part of the NAMM Foundation’s efforts to advocate for school-based music education. Numerous studies have demonstrated that learning to play music can boost other academic and social skills, such as math and learning to cooperate in a group.

While the school district has always offered music as a course of study, the program was dramatically expanded with the opening of Delsea Middle School in the Fall 1989. Since that time, the number of additional courses has warranted the hiring of a third music teacher in the district.